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Author
Topic: European AMG...2010? (Read 14885 times)

There has been talk of an AMG in Europe. However, no one to date has taken the bull by the horns and organized even a mini gathering. So, to put an end to the back and forth bickering I'm putting forth the idea of AMG taking place somewhere in Europe in 2010.

Why 2010? If the group should decide to hold a European AMG in 2010, this gives members plenty of time to brainstorm and decide on specifics. It also gives members from the US, and those European members farthest from the chosen location plenty of time to plan and set aside their pennies.

I want to reiterate I am in no way promising an AMG in Europe in 2010. I'm just tossing the idea out for discussion. Ultimately, you, the group will decide.

If someone else would like to plan a European AMG sooner then please do so.

Please use this thread to toss around ideas. Suggest locations and what not.

Now is your time to show there is a significant interest for AMG to be held in Europe!

London so Mini and I can stay with Cliff. Who, I am sure, wouldn't mind sleeping on the couch for a week or so I'd also love to go to Ireland. But, I don't make enough pennies to save enough to go to Europe. It is nice to dream, though.

I was there is 1972, staying at a youth hostel. I was on top of my bed reading some book in English and about 7 young high school guys come. They saw the book and said "USA" USA". I nodded. Then one guy came up to me and took my head and put it right down in his crotch and yelled "USA" "USA". Then he pulled down his zipper. (This was getting good~~, i thought). He pointed at his zipper and, sure enough, it said "USA" "USA".

I don't exactly remember the sequence of events, but somehow we all ended up in the shower.

Tonio and I were in Amsterdam last year and we got a good hotel room in a great gay hotel [The Golden Bear] in the centre of Amsterdam for 90 euros a night with a share bathroom [it's really expensive if you want a room with your own bathroom in Amsterdam]. You can eat really well for about 10-15 euros.....and the coffee shops are great [and I don't mean Starbucks]. Oh, and everybody speaks English. Besos Mark.

I have fond memories of Amerstdam coffee shops (visited there in early 1998.) In addition to the "herbs" you can buy a confection called "space cake" (in my college days these were referred to as Alice B. Toklas brownies.) If it can be relatively affordable, Amsterdam is great fun...even if we have to share a bathroom.

I'm still trying to wrap my imagination around Robert and the Budapest hostel shower.....

I have bad memories of Amsterdam, and a youth hostel room I shared with a dozen, overweight hairy Turkish men in 1987. I also hadn't been more than 10 steps outside of the train station until someone offered to sell me heroin.

Just for fun, I searched for flights to Amsterdam and London from RDU, NYC, and Chicago airports. Basically, unless one live near one of these larger cities (NY or Chicago), travel to either location is going to be very expensive. Basically, from RDU, there's $500 difference in airfare alone... that allows a good bit more to be spent on hotels and food.

AmsterdamRDU $2041LAG $1314ORD $1598

LondonRDU $1532JFK $1087ORD $1285

I think that, for many of us in the US, either of these destinations is going to be prohibitively expensive. I'll abstain from voting, as either location would be fine with me but it's pretty much irrelevant and doesn't concern me (since I won't be able to attend).

I wouldn't take these quotes at face value. Most airlines don't have their discounts or lower fares posted yet for this time next year. However, you can probably count on close to or slightly over $1000 from any east coast airport.

If a European AMG comes to fruition in 2010 everyone has 2 years to save. There doesn't seem to be much interest from our European friends though.

Just for fun, I searched for flights to Amsterdam and London from RDU, NYC, and Chicago airports. Basically, unless one live near one of these larger cities (NY or Chicago), travel to either location is going to be very expensive. Basically, from RDU, there's $500 difference in airfare alone... that allows a good bit more to be spent on hotels and food.

AmsterdamRDU $2041LAG $1314ORD $1598

LondonRDU $1532JFK $1087ORD $1285

I think that, for many of us in the US, either of these destinations is going to be prohibitively expensive. I'll abstain from voting, as either location would be fine with me but it's pretty much irrelevant and doesn't concern me (since I won't be able to attend).

I'm not starting anything, I'm just asking a question. Dennis, if there remains a disinterest from the European members to have AMG 2010 in a European location, will there then be a discussion, and vote, for an American-based AMG 2010?

I'm not starting anything, I'm just asking a question. Dennis, if there remains a disinterest from the European members to have AMG 2010 in a European location, will there then be a discussion, and vote, for an American-based AMG 2010?

Don't let those prices put you off. I think closer to the date you'll get more realistic airfare quotes. Most people I know pay between $650-900 to fly from a major US city (Houston, NY, DC) to London. Carriers will offer sales to/from the US during summer/fall.

Also, the cost (on a US dollar basis) is coming down now that the dollar is strengthening. Everything is now 20-25% cheaper to Americans than they were 6 months ago because of the weakening of the Euro/Pound. I suspect the dollar will continue to rise over the next year or two.

Yes, Europe is more expensive. But so are cities like NYC and San Francisco (and we made that one work)! Mexico was suggested a few years ago, and people didn't want to thinking it would be too hectic for the group. But that worked as well.

Now, now -- let's not start acting like Republicans by creating an issue that doesn't exist. A few folks have said there's no interest from our European members, but thus far both Hermie and Cliff have posted to this thread (which is only a week old), so there IS some interest. I'm sure if we got serious about this, and later posted a thread in Living With directing folks to a European AMG thread in this forum, the interest would only grow.

Don't forget there has been a mini-gathering 2 years back in Amsterdam.Remember we rented a houseboat then?Joemutt came all the way from Bangkok then and we had Mark form Malta en Coen and Eirin from Holland. We were 8 I think.I know Waterduck would be interested to come as would Dragonette...

Anyway, when Dan came to see me in December I got him a ticket for 660 $. All the way from Memphis to Brussels via Amsterdam.Of course it is all a matter of timing.Why not hold our meeting early may or early October?

I am getting detoxspams already .. having had to miss Mexico was bad enough....

I was in Toronto, Montreal, Nashville, Amsterdam and San Francisco.... and believe me, they all had their different charm ( and I have my ID reduced airline tickets still).

We will make this work, wherever it is... the world is on small place after all.

love

Hermie

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Diagnosed in 1987 and still kickingKivexa (Epzicom),Tivicay once daily

I don't normally read this subforum, I guess I think that any forum gathering is gonna take place in the States... But here I find out you're planning one in Europe for 2010!

Any of the places you've suggested would be perfect (London, Amsterdam...), the ones in Spain would probably be cheaper and are great fun too (maybe Madrid is a bit cheaper than Barcelona, but both are great cities to visit)... In short, count me in, no matter the place of Europe that is finally agreed on.

Now, now -- let's not start acting like Republicans by creating an issue that doesn't exist. A few folks have said there's no interest from our European members, but thus far both Hermie and Cliff have posted to this thread (which is only a week old), so there IS some interest. I'm sure if we got serious about this, and later posted a thread in Living With directing folks to a European AMG thread in this forum, the interest would only grow.

Hi, you are right.There is some or more than "some"interest.Its not only me,but few of my friends.AMG in Amsterdam ,Athens or Frankfurt would be great...Lakis

Everyone says London is so expensive...a lot's happened since last year. Food/lodging isn't what it was. With a little effort and careful planning you might be surprised that there are bargains to be bagged over here

Everyone says London is so expensive...a lot's happened since last year. Food/lodging isn't what it was. With a little effort and careful planning you might be surprised that there are bargains to be bagged over here

Many moons ago when I worked for TW and they still had a non-stop ORD-LHR, I loved flying to London. I have been there many times. It is my favourite city in the world and I would love to go back there.

Rule Britanna, Britanna Rule the Waves!

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It is not the arrival that matters. It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne